Buffalo Bills News - June 1, 2002

Bills set to pull plug on Fina [10:44 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'The veteran tackle is expected to be a salary cap casualty, perhaps as early as Monday, according to an NFL source. Meanwhile, Jay Riemersma probably will keep his job, even though his agent has not been able to strike a deal to restructure the tight end's contract.'

The five biggest winners in free agency [1:14 AM]The Sporting News reports:
5. Bills
Key additions: QB Drew Bledsoe, LB London Fletcher, OT Trey Teague.
Buffalo has been looking for the right leader since Jim Kelly retired after the 1996 season. Although his performance has tailed off the last three seasons, Bledsoe is only 30. He still has a lot of production left in him and could thrive in the Bills' new offense if he gets enough protection. Although undersized, Fletcher is a quick, instinctive middle linebacker who can make plays from sideline to sideline. Teague replaces an aging John Fina at left tackle and will be counted on to protect Bledsoe's blind side.

May 31, 2002

Bills & Buffalo Zoo Host Community Day On Sunday [12:21 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
The Bills and the Buffalo Zoo will host a Community Day at the Buffalo Zoo this Sunday, June 2nd. There will be interactive games, face painting, and appearances by Bills players including Ruben Brown, Brian Moorman and Tony Driver between noon and 3:00 PM. Also participating will be Buffalo Jills, team alumni and Billy Buffalo.

Hall Of Fame Seating Policy Announced For Aug. 3 [11:01 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Reserved tickets can be ordered only by mail, with a limit of 10 tickets per order. Requests for tickets should be sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Attn. Enshrinement Tickets, 2121 George Halas Drive NW, Canton, OH 44708.

Seating Policy Announced for Enshrinement on Aug. 3 [10:21 AM]Pro Hall of Fame reports:
The August 3, 2002 ceremony has been moved to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium. The new location will provide a seating capacity of 20,348 seat. As a result, the Hall of Fame is able to offer to the public an opportunity to purchase reserved seats.

Half of spectators will see HOF enshrinement for free [9:29 AM]Canton Repository reports:
'“I think every bar in Buffalo has a sign-up sheet for people to come watch the enshrinement,” said Joe Horrigan, the Hall’s vice president-communications/exhibits, who was born in Buffalo and retains close ties to the city. “With those fans coming from Buffalo, along with the fans who come from Pittsburgh every time a Steeler is inducted, we are expecting a huge, huge crowd."'

Football Hall of Fame induction tickets available [9:26 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'For the first time, the hall is making advance tickets available by mail for the event, to be held Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio. A total of 7,138 sideline seats will be available at $10 each.'

Riemersma future still is not settled [5:17 AM]D and C reports:
'The Bills, approximately $1.75 million under the cap, would like to create more breathing room so they can sign their 10 draft picks, go after a free agent defensive tackle and leave a cushion for emergencies. Riemersma and veteran tackle John Fina, who together represent $5.525 million in cap savings, are the prime candidates to be released.'

May 30, 2002

Riemersma's future in question with Bills [9:32 PM]AP reports:
'"We did everything we could with this, and it's up to them to decide," Riemersma's agent Jack Wirth said on Thursday. "If they think they're going to have a better team by releasing him, that's their view of it. We just wait to see what happens. I have no control over that, none whatsoever. It's their call."'

2002 Ralph C. Wilson Distinguished Service Awards [8:17 PM]TBD reports:
Pete Metzelaars and Thurman Thomas to be awarded Ralph C. Wilson Distinguished Service Awards for 2002. This was annouced at the Buffalo Bills open backers meeting this week.

Bills Uniform Evolution: Modifications Through The Years [5:07 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
When the Bills started play in the American Football League in 1960, they wore blue jerseys at home with silver numbers and white jerseys with blue numbers on the road. Take a look back at the modifications to the Bills uniforms through the years.

Nine Days 'Til Uniform Unveiling; Tickets Available To Public Tomorrow [12:59 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Tomorrow, members of the general public will have their first opportunity to pick up tickets to the event at all Tops Friendly Markets locations and there will be a four-ticket limit per person. While the festivities are open to the public and free to attend, a ticket will be required for admission to stadium, Bills Experience, and autograph sessions for kids 14-and-under.

Riemersma is working on a four-year, $12 million contract that's been re-worked at least once. "You realize there's a business side to all this and it's really not you as a player per se, it's that cap number," he said. "That's today's NFL. They sign TV deals and the cap every year only goes up seven percent but on average guy's contracts go up 10 to 12. Something's got to give.

Rumors continue to swirl that the Bills are willing to trade RB Shawn Bryson for help on the defensive line. Bryson is the Bills' biggest and fastest ball carrier, his only crime is that GM Tom Donahoe and coach Gregg Williams didn't draft him.

$13 million dollars in dead cap money for the 2002 season [10:33 AM]ESN reports:
Rob Johnson ($5,075,250) alone counts for 39% of the team’s dead cap money. Combine that money with Henry Jones ($2.9 million), John Holecek ($1.6 million), Phil Hansen ($1.6 million) and Ken Irvin ($1.4 million) and you have 99% of the Bills dead dollars tied up among five players. Bills GM Donahoe is doing his best to avoid future dead cap money, that’s why it’ll be interesting to see what happens after June 1. A lot of dead money equals salary cap jail, something Donahoe has said will not happen again during his tenure with the team.

Buffalo Bills Playoff History [9:25 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
The Buffalo Bills have had a long and storied playoff history, dating back to their 1964 and 1965 AFL Championships, as well as their four consecutive AFC Championships in the early 1990s. Here's a complete list along with game summaries.

Tillman marches to his own drummer [5:18 AM]Fox Sports reports:
'The Bills would be crazy to let Riemersma go, especially after a career-best 53 catches last year. Keep this in mind: When Drew Bledsoe was at his best with New England, he had tight end Ben Coates to throw to. He needs a tight end with hands, and Dave Moore isn't that guy.'

Veteran Fina trying to remain with Bills [5:16 AM]D and C reports:
'With a willingness to take a "substantial" pay cut, according to his agent, and to assume a backup role if that's what the coaching staff wants, the veteran offensive tackle is not making it easy for the Buffalo Bills to cut him on Saturday.'

May 29, 2002

Ticket Details of Uniform Unveiling [6:11 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Tickets for the general public will be available beginning on Friday, May 31 at all Tops Friendly Markets locations and will be limited to four per person…

AFC East - Division of the tight end [4:43 PM]ESPN reports:
The Bills are hoping tight end Jay Riemersma will restructure his contract to avoid being cut because coordinator Kevin Gilbride wants to run a lot of two tight-end sets. After catching only 11 percent of their teams' passes last season, AFC East tight ends likely will have an expanded role this season.
Brief report on tight ends in the AFC East.

Report on Buffalo Bills Booster Club meeting [4:20 PM]TBD reports:
Tom Donahoe, Gregg Williams and John Murphy attended and spoke on upcoming new jersey unveiling of the new uniform jersey. There will be 30,000 tickets available and the stage will be on the field like the Jim Kelly jersey retirement ceremony.
Photos of Donahoe, Williams and Murphy from meeting by Cindy Fox.

Ten Days 'Til Uniform Unveiling [1:10 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Gates will open on June 8 at 12:30 PM and the event will begin at 1:30 PM. Players will be available afterwards for kids 14 and under and a ticket stub will be required to receive autographs.

Kelly follows Flutie with charity cereal [9:07 AM]AP reports:
'Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and a Pittsburgh marketing company have signed a deal for the creation of "Kelly Krunch," a limited edition cereal expected in Buffalo-area stores in July.'

May 28, 2002

Pat Kirwan - SI favorite off season moves [5:30 PM]CNN/SI reports:
QB Drew Bledsoe -- He gives the Bills instant credibility and puts Buffalo in a position to be this year's Patriots story. For the first time in many years Drew has to compete to save his career and most insiders I spoke with feel he's up to the challenge. He could easily have the kind of effect that Rich Gannon had on the Raiders when he moved west to Oakland back in 1999, and Bills offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride is at his best when coaching smart QBs like Bledsoe.